Apparatus for, and method of, separating cylindrical bodies

ABSTRACT

An arrangement for separating cylindrical bodies, such as parisons for hollow bodies, which have at least one protuberance at a first end, has a pair of parallel guide elements between which the cylindrical bodies can be erected in that the cylindrical bodies hang on the guide elements in each case by way of the protuberance. The separating arrangement here has a detecting arrangement with an ejector by means of which cylindrical bodies which, although hanging on the guide elements by way of the protuberance, do not have their second end hanging downwards or are nested one inside the other, are detected and ejected from the individual row.

The invention relates to the field of singling bulk goods, in particularto an apparatus and a method for singling cylindrical bodies accordingto the preamble of the corresponding independent patent claims.

PRIOR ART

Preforms of PET bottles are conventionally delivered unsorted as bulkgoods in large containers and conducted across a loading device to asingling device. The singling device sets up the preforms and forms asingle row of the preforms, which leaves the singling device, forexample via an obliquely downwardly directed slide, also referred to asrun-off track. From here the preforms are transported to the testing andinspection devices and conveying devices, and lastly to a stretchblowing machine where their cylindrical body is blown into a desiredbottle form. The preforms have typically a screw header at an open endwith a threaded fitting and a collar or bearing ring having a greaterdiameter than the remaining cylinder portion of the preform.

DE 601 18 772 T2 describes a singling device realized as a rollerconveyor. This conveyor comprises two rollers spaced apart relative toone another, which rollers are disposed at the funnel-shaped bottom of along stretched-out container.

The rollers rotate about their longitudinal axes and form a conveyorpath which conventionally runs at a minimal downward inclination.Aligned one after the other in a single row, the preforms aretransported by this roller conveyor. For this purpose they are incontact with their collars on the rollers, wherein, due to the force ofgravity, their bodies with the cylinder portion are freely suspended inthe gap between the rollers. Preforms that do not assume the correctposition or are interlaced and therefore project beyond a predeterminedheight are ejected out of the conveyor path by means of a rotating kickwheel or back-force wheel back into a rearward region of the rollerconveyor or into an overflow region from which they are again conveyedinto a filler container of the roller conveyor.

Due to the high conveying capacity of such singling devices, very highreliability and freedom from trouble is required in order to avoiddowntimes of the subsequently following installation with correspondingconsequential costs. In known devices, for example, preforms which areresting with their collars on the collar of an adjacent perform orpreforms which are disposed horizontally on the gap between the rollerscannot be picked up and ejected. In the subsequent areas of theinstallation, trouble and consequently interruptions of operationresult. It was found that the reliability of known singling devices doesnot meet the high requirements and that further improvement of theinterference resistance is necessary.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention therefore addresses the problem of providing a singlingapparatus and a method of the above described type which eliminate theabove described disadvantages. The invention is to ensure in particularthat positional errors of preforms which were previously not detectableand also the positional errors of preforms that were detectable with theknown systems are detected with high reliability and are automaticallyeliminated.

This problem is resolved by a singling apparatus for cylindrical bodiesand a method with the characteristics of the corresponding independentpatent claims.

The singling apparatus is laid out for cylindrical bodies, such aspreforms for hollow bodies, which bodies at a first end have at leastone projection or a bearing ring and at a second end a diameter that isless than the diameter of the projection. The singling apparatusincludes a pair of parallel guidance elements between which thecylindrical bodies can be set up thereby that the cylindrical bodies aresuspended by the projection on the guidance elements, thus point withthe second end downwardly. The cylindrical bodies form a single rowalong the guidance elements and can thus be conveyed to a run-off forfurther conveyance of the cylindrical bodies.

The singling device includes herein a detection and ejection arrangementwhich detects cylindrical bodies, which, while they are caught by theprojection on the guidance elements, their second end, however, is notsuspended downwardly or if two or more cylindrical bodies are stuck orare interlaced, and ejects them from the single row.

Such a malposition can occur, for example, if the lower end of thecylindrical body, due to fabrication errors or tolerances, is too wideand thereby remains caught on the guidance elements instead of rotatingdownwardly into the vertical position. Another cause can be that twopreforms are stuck on one another and thus jointly remain in ahorizontal position between the guidance elements or that the stuckcylindrical bodies or preforms are obliquely or even correctly suspendeddownwardly, however project with the first upper end beyond a normalheight profile. In all cases, what is acquired is that a preform isexistent, however not correctly oriented and thereupon the ejection istriggered. Therewith a presence as well as also a position detection isprovided.

For the presence as well as also for the position detection,alternatively also single or groups of light barriers (light grids orlight curtains) or line sensors or cameras or reflection light scannersor ultrasonic distance meters or mechanical sensors, for example, areconceivable, which, for example, are directed laterally or from above,respectively from below, onto the conveyor path and the single row ofconveyed bodies.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the detectiondevice is an optoelectronic sensor, which comprises an optical system,image recorder and processor and this optoelectronic sensor, viewed inthe direction of conveyance of the preforms, is disposed at thebeginning region of the subregion path of the guidance elements with theejection means. Such optoelectronic sensors are known per se as camerasor image sensors for pattern recognition.

According to the invention it is further proposed that theoptoelectronic sensor is equipped with comparison means which, by meansof a processor, generates a control signal for at least one of theejection means if a preform rests incorrectly on the guidance elementsor two or more preforms are interlaced into one another.

The ejection arrangement preferably includes a detection device in theform of a parallel-position detection device with a presence detectorand a position detector. The presence detector herein determines thepresence of a cylindrical body between the guidance elements, and theposition detector determines the orientation of the cylindrical body. Inthe presence of a cylindrical body in incorrect orientation, thussubstantially located parallel to the guidance elements, theparallel-position detection device triggers the ejection of thecylindrical body.

The presence detector is preferably a light barrier, in particular alight barrier whose beam is guided from above downwardly or conversely,through the single row of the cylindrical bodies.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the position detector detectsthe presence of the second ends of the cylindrical bodies in a regionbeneath the guidance elements. Therewith detection of position isfeasible with simple means. The position detector preferably comprisesan ultrasonic sensor implemented as a distance meter or proximityswitch, which sensor measures the distance from the ultrasonic sensor tothe expected position of the second ends of the cylindrical bodies and,if this distance exceeds a predetermined value, signals the incorrectorientation of the corresponding cylindrical body.

The first ejection arrangement further comprises preferably a movableejection means, which, for the ejection of an incorrectly orientedcylindrical body, moves from below between the guidance elements andthus lifts this cylindrical body and ejects it. The second ejectionarrangement can, moreover, comprise an associated blow-gun device forlaterally blowing away the cylindrical body after the lifting.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention the singlingapparatus comprises a height guidance above the single row, wherein adistance between the height guidance and the cylindrical bodies, viewedin the direction of conveyance, decreases to a predetermined distancefrom the guidance elements, whereby vertically projecting cylindricalbodies, by being conveyed in the direction of conveyance, are pressed orguided downwardly through the height guidance. The height guidance isherein liftable for a short time by means of a lifting arrangementaccording to a trigger signal.

It becomes hereby feasible to temporarily free cylindrical bodies whichhave become jammed against, respectively under, the height guidance.Since the jamming, as is shown, often stems from the fact that a preformis with its collar in contact on the collar of an adjacent preform, thesuperjacent preform can slide into the correct position after thejamming has been released.

The distance between the height guidance and the cylindrical bodies isusefully settable according to the height of the bodies, e.g. accordingto the height by which the cylindrical bodies project vertically beyondthe guidance elements if they are properly suspended by their collar onthe guidance elements.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the guidance elements arerollers, in particular counter-rotating rollers, and the cylindricalbodies are conveyed in an interspace between the rollers. The singlingapparatus thus is based on the principle of a roller conveyor. Inprinciple, the invention can also be implemented with other types ofguidance elements, for example with rails and, for example, in a shakerconveyor.

Lifting the height guidance can take place through a parallel movementor also through a tilt movement. The lifting can, for example, also beperformed through pneumatically or electromagnetically acting actuators.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention the singlingapparatus includes a jamming detection device, which is realized todetect the abutting of a cylindrical body on the height guidance andthereupon to generate a trigger signal for lifting the height guidance.It becomes thereby feasible to selectively and specifically lift theheight guidance in the presence of jamming.

This jamming detection device is preferably realized for the purpose ofacquiring whether cylindrical bodies are present, in the direction ofconveyance, in front of the height guidance and whether in a regionafter the height guidance no cylindrical bodies exist, and if these twoconditions are met, to generate the trigger signal. The jammingdetection device thus detects a jam in the conveyor path of the preformsin the region of the height guidance and therewith also implicitlydetects a jamming against the height guidance.

The guidance elements of the run-off and potential further elements,which determine the course of the single row of cylindrical bodies, willbe combined in the following under the term ‘conveyor path’.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention the jamming detectiondevice comprises a first presence detector, in particular a firstphotoelectric interrupter-relay, or light barrier, which detects in aregion of a conveyor path of the cylindrical bodies in front of theheight guidance the presence of cylindrical bodies and a second presencedetector, in particular a second light barrier, which detects in aregion of the conveyor path of the cylindrical bodies behind the heightguidance the presence of cylindrical bodies. According to thisembodiment, thus a jam is detected if the cylindrical bodies areabutting in front of the height guidance and none are abutting behindthe height guidance. Therewith a jam detection is feasible with simplemeans.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention one or both presencedetectors are a light barrier and, with respect to the conveyor path,are each so disposed that the beam of the light barrier, if thecylindrical bodies are directly successive to one another on theconveyor path, is in each instance guided through several of thecylindrical bodies. The beam of the light barrier is preferably inclinedwith respect to the conveyor path, respectively with respect to thesingle row of cylindrical bodies moving therein, e.g. it extends at anangle of less than 90°, preferably less than 70°, with respect to theconveyance direction of the cylindrical bodies. The light barrier can bea transmitted light barrier (one-way light barrier) or a reflectionlight barrier.

Instead of light barriers, other sensors or other dispositions ofsensors are in principle also employable, which detect the presence of agroup of cylindrical bodies in a predetermined region of the conveyorpath. Individual light barriers or groups of light barriers (light gridsor light curtains) or line sensors or cameras or reflection lightscanners or ultrasonic sensors or mechanical sensors, for example, areconceivable, which are oriented, for example laterally or from above,respectively below, onto the conveyor path and the single row ofconveyed bodies.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention the height guidanceis disposed in the proximity of a back-force wheel (or kick wheel) andblades of the rotating back-force wheel include a cutout whichcorresponds to the shape of the height guidance. The blades projectherein in a region in which the height guidance is not yet activedownwardly beyond the height guidance. Therewith an especiallyspace-saving combination of the back-force wheel with the heightguidance is feasible. However, in principle it is also feasible todispose the back-force wheel in front of the height guidance along theconveyor path. This combination has the advantage that, whilefurther-projecting cylindrical bodies and those loosely superjacentcylindrical bodies are picked up by the back-force wheel and flungbackward counter to the direction of conveyance, and while less-farprojecting cylindrical bodies are not picked up by the back-force wheel,they are however, subsequently picked up by the height guidance. Thus,viewed in the direction of conveyance, first the back-force wheel andsubsequently the height guidance are effective. In both cases the bladesof the back-force wheel project at the lowest location preferablyfurther downwardly than the height guidance. Although therewith theback-force wheel should theoretically pick up all cylindrical bodieswhich would abut at the height guidance, it has been found in practicethat even then the cylindrical bodies are occasionally jammed againstthe height guidance.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention the singlingapparatus comprises further a resting detection facility, which acquireswhether a cylindrical body is resting on the cylindrical bodies conveyedin the single row or is laterally in contact. If this is the case, anassociated blow-gun device for laterally blowing away a cylindrical bodyfrom the guidance elements, respectively the single row, is activated.

The resting detection facility preferably comprises a light barrier,whose beam extends substantially horizontally and at an angle,preferably substantially perpendicularly, to the course of the guidanceelements, respectively the single row. The height of the beam is setsuch that the light barrier responds in the event cylindrical bodies areresting one on the other. Thus, if the cylindrical bodies are in theirnormal position, the beam extends above the cylindrical bodies and thelight barrier does not respond. The light barrier can be disposed at alocation of the conveyor path at which the blowing-out also takes place.In this case, the blowing-out is triggered without substantial delayafter the light barrier has responded. If the blowing-out only takesplace at a later location, it is only triggered a certain length of timeafter the light barrier has responded, which time corresponds to theconveying speed.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the blow-gun deviceassociated with the ejection arrangement is identical with the blow-gundevice associated with the resting detection facility. This yields asimplification of the overall arrangement combined with increasedfunctionality.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention the singlingapparatus comprises the ejection arrangement as well as also a kickwheel and an adjustable height guidance. Furthermore, optionally also alateral blow-gun device can be provided for the elimination ofhorizontally resting bodies. With this combination of elements,malpositions of different type can be detected in complementary mannerand be eliminated whereby overall very high reliability results.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention the ejectionarrangement and the adjustable height guidance employ at least onesensor jointly. Thus, for example, a light barrier which acts as apresence detector of the ejection arrangement can also be utilized forthe detection of a jam in front of the height guidance. In the analysisof the sensor signals for the height guidance the transport time betweenejection arrangement and height guidance is potentially taken intoconsideration and whether or not the ejection arrangement has recentlybeen triggered.

The above described arrangements are fundamentally not only suitable fororienting preforms but also all bulk goods which have a support orbearing ring or a contact face or a collar.

Further preferred embodiments are evident in the dependent patentclaims. Characteristics of the method claims are analogously combinablewith those of the device claims and conversely.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

In the following the subject matter of the invention will be explainedin further detail in conjunction with preferred embodiment examplesshown in the attached drawing. Therein depict schematically:

FIG. 1 an overview over a device for loading an automatic productionline,

FIG. 2 a side view of a liftable height guidance in a roller conveyor,

FIG. 3 a view of the height guidance viewed in the conveyance direction,

FIG. 4 a view of such a height guidance in combination with a back-forcewheel,

FIG. 5 a perspective view of the disposition of height guidance andback-force wheel,

FIG. 6 a side view of an ejection arrangement in a roller conveyor,

FIG. 7 a perspective view of the ejection arrangement during theejection of a conveyed body,

FIG. 8 a view of a blow-gun disposition for the removal of restingpreforms,

FIG. 9 a view of the disposition of FIG. 8 from below, and

FIG. 10 a side view of a roller conveyor with a liftable height guidanceand an ejection arrangement with a blow-gun device.

The reference numbers used in the drawing and their significance arecompiled in the list of reference numbers. In principle, in the Figureslike parts are provided with like reference numbers.

PATHS FOR IMPLEMENTING THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows an overview over a device for loading an automaticproduction line. Herein preforms 2 are, for example, guided from aloading device 36 with a bulk goods container and an ascending conveyorto a singling apparatus 1. In the singling apparatus 1 the preforms 2are set up and brought into a single row 8. This single row 8 of thepreforms 2 leaves the singling apparatus 1 via a run-off track 9 and istransported into a conveyor device 37 with measuring and checkingdevices and is subsequently supplied via an acceptance device 38 of aforming device 39, for example of an automatic stretch blowing machine.In this connection, in the following the term preforms 2 is used,however, it is understood that the invention can also be utilizedanalogously for singling and orienting different, substantiallycylindrical bodies which have a collar or a bearing ring. The componentsdescribed in the following are disposed at the end section of thesingling apparatus 1, in the transition to the run-off track 9.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of a liftable height guidance 10 in a singlingapparatus 1, and FIG. 3 a view with a line of sight in the conveyancedirection 42. This liftable height guidance 10 is disposed in front ofexit end 40 of the singling apparatus 1. The singling apparatus 1comprises a roller conveyor 41 known per se with two parallel rollers 7.The height guidance 10 is secured on a lifting arrangement 11 and isliftable by actuation of lifting cylinders 20 which are connected viaarticulation with the height guidance 10. The height guidance 10 isdisposed above a conveyor path 16 on which the preforms 2 are conveyedin a single row 8. The single row 8 is formed in known manner in aninterspace 12 between two counter-rotating cylinders or rollers 7. Thepreforms 2 comprise for this purpose a substantially cylindrical form,with an end region 4 with a collar 5 and a threaded fitting 6 on a firstend and a cylinder portion 3 at the second end. The cylinder portion 3has a smaller diameter than the collar 5 such that the preform 2 remainscaught between the guidance roller 7 on collar 5.

The single row 8 is conveyed underneath the height guidance 10 to arun-off track 9. In a region —viewed in the conveyance direction 42—infront of the height guidance 10 is disposed a first light barrier 14with a first reflector 32 such that it responds if one or several of thepreforms 2 is/are located in this region of the conveyor path 16. In aregion following the height guidance 10, thus for example at run-off 9,a second light barrier 15 with a second reflector 33 is disposed whichresponds if one or more of the preforms 2 are present in this region ofthe conveyor path 16. A jamming detection device 13 acquires via (notdrawn-in) signal connections the status of the two light barriers andaccordingly controls via (not drawn-in) further control connections thelifting cylinder 20 for lifting the height guidance 10.

This is accomplished in the following manner: if, as is shown in FIG. 2,preforms 2 in the single row 8 are closely succeeding one another andtheir collars 5 are superpositioned or are resting one on the other,such resting preforms 2 are too high and, given the correspondingsetting of the height of the height guidance 10, come into contact withit. Thereby, or also for other reasons, the preforms 2 can become jammedagainst the height guidance 10. As a consequence preforms 2 are nolonger conveyed past the height guidance 10 and the second light barrier15 in the proximity of run-off 9 no longer responds. Due to the preforms2 jammed up in front of the height guidance 10, the first light barrier14 responds. If this condition occurs, the jamming detection device 13triggers the lifting of the height guidance 10. The jammed preforms 2thereby detach from one another and from the height guidance 10 andslide through run-off 9. The detaching of the preforms 2 from oneanother and the sliding-off of their collars 5 on one another issupported thereby that the preforms 2 are accelerated on theprogressively inclined run-off 9 and no preforms 2 are present inrun-off 9 which brake this movement and the singling of the preforms 2.The height guidance 10 is lifted for about one half to one and a halfseconds, typically about one second, and subsequently lowered again.

FIG. 4 depicts a view of such a height guidance 10 in combination with aback-force wheel or kick wheel 17. The back-force wheel 17 includespaddles or blades 18, each provided with a slot-like cutout 19, in whichcourses the height guidance 10. The tips of the blades 18 preferablyextend at least as low as the height guidance 10 at its lowest site in aregion (viewed in the conveyance direction) in front of the heightguidance project the tips further beyond the height guidance 10. Thusthe back-force wheel 17 thereby picks up preforms 2 that project too farand into the region of the blades 18 or such that are resting one on theother and ejects these again in the backward direction. Preforms 2 whichare not picked up by the back-force wheel 17 can still lead to jammingguidance 10, which, as described, is eliminated by lifting the heightguidance 10. The height guidance 10 and the back-force wheel 17 can beheight-adjustable jointly or each by itself, whereby adaptation todifferent geometries of the preforms 2 is feasible.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the relative disposition of heightguidance 10 and back-force wheel 17, in which the cutouts 19 and thecourse of the height guidance 10 in the cutouts 19 of the rotatingblades 18 is evident. The cutouts 19 are deep enough such that even withthe height guidance 10 lifted, the latter does not collide with theblades 18. The back-force wheel 17 can alternatively also be brieflylifted together with the height guidance 10.

FIG. 6 shows a side view of a first ejection arrangement 21 in a rollerconveyor. This ejection device 21 in the described example is disposed,seen in the conveyance direction 42, in front of the height guidance 10.The ejection arrangement 21 includes an ejection means 26, in this casea vertically movable body which can be moved from below verticallybetween the guide rollers 7 and in such a movement pushes amalpositioned preform 2 located between the guide rollers 7 upwardly.The ejection arrangement 21 comprises further a detection devicerealized in the form of a parallel-position detection device 22, whichis equipped for analyzing signals of a presence detector 23 and aposition detector 24. The presence detector 23 determines whether or notat a predetermined measuring site of the roller conveyor 41 or theconveyor path 16 a preform 2 is present. For this purpose the presencedetector 23 is, for example, a light barrier 43 with a reflector 34,which are so disposed that the light beam is directed through theinterspace 12 between the rollers 7 of the conveyor path 16 and respondsif a preform is present at the measuring site. The position detector 24simultaneously determines whether or not this preform 2 is alsovertically suspended. For this purpose it preferably comprises anultrasonic sensor 25 which determines a distance to the expected lowerend of a preform 2 at the measuring site. An acquisition region 44, inwhich the ultrasonic sensor 25 responds, is shown schematically in theFigure. If this distance is too great and the presence detector 23simultaneously reports the presence of a preform 2, theparallel-position detection device 22 automatically triggers theactuation of the ejection means 26 and thereby the ejection of themalpositioned preform 2. The location at which the parallel position ischecked typically precedes the location, seen in the conveyancedirection, at which the ejection means 26 acts. Between the time ofdetection of a malpositioned, respectively horizontally disposed,preform 2 and the time of ejection therefore a delay is interspaced.This delay depends on the conveyance rate (depending on the size of thepreforms for example about 15,000 to 80,000 pieces/hr) and is, forexample, about one half second. The functions of the parallel-positiondetection device 22 can also be integrated in an optoelectronic sensorsystem with an optical image sensor 48, as is alternatively indicated inFIG. 10. Such optoelectronic sensor systems are known per se in conveyorsystems with pattern recognition.

The ejection means 26 can comprise an asymmetric ejection ram whichpushes the preform 2 away into a preferred direction laterally orrearwardly. Alternatively, or additionally, the ejection arrangement 21can comprise a blow-gun device 27 (see FIG. 7), which is activatedtogether with the ejection means 26 and blows the preform 2 laterallyaway.

FIG. 7 depicts a perspective view of the ejection arrangement 21 duringthe ejection of a conveyed body or preform 2 and a possible position ofthe optional blow-gun device 27. Opposite the blow-gun device 27 isshown a capture arrangement 45. This captures the blown-away preforms 2which subsequently are guided back to the start of the singlingapparatus 1.

FIG. 8 depicts a view of a resting detection facility 28 with a blow-gundevice 31 for the removal of horizontally and/or obliquely restingpreforms 2. FIG. 9 shows a view of this disposition from below. Theresting detection facility 28 comprises a light barrier 29 with areflector 35. The beam 30 of the light barrier 29 extends minimallyabove the correct position of the preforms 2 such that it does notrespond if the aligned preforms 2 are at the normal height between theguide rollers 7. If one or several of the preforms 2, as drawn, arepositioned on the aligned preforms 2, these interrupt the beam 30. Theresting detection facility 28 automatically triggers an air puff by theblow-gun device 31, which blows the preforms 2 laterally away. In apreferred embodiment of the invention several air nozzles 46 aredisposed along the conveyance direction 42 as a portion of the blow-gundevice 31, such that the preforms 2 are reliably picked up by the airpuff. In the depicted preferred embodiment of the invention, moreover,two light barriers 29 are disposed successively in the conveyancedirection 42, each with associated air nozzles 46. If, based on thesignal of the first light barrier 29, there are still resting preforms 2after the blowing-out, these are acquired by the second light barrier29. The reliability of the system is thereby further increased. Whenusing an optical image sensor 48 (see FIG. 10) the resting detection isalso integrated in the system of pattern recognition and the viewinglight barriers can in this case at least be partially omitted.

The ejection arrangement 21 with the ejection means 26 and the restingdetection facility 28 with the blow-gun device 31 are in principleseparately realizable. However, in the preferred embodiment, depicted inFIGS. 7 and 10, of the invention, they are combined with one another.Herein the blow-gun device 27 of the ejection arrangement 21 isidentical to the blow-gun device 31 of the resting detection facility28.

FIG. 10 shows a side view of an embodiment of the invention withliftable height guidance 10 as well as also the ejection arrangement 21and the resting detection facility with the light barriers 29 combinedtherewith. In this depiction the height guidance 10 with the kick wheel17, the ejection arrangement 21 with the associated blow-gun device 27as well as the blow-gun device 31 are disposed at their preferredposition along the conveyor path 16. The depiction shows schematicallyalso the disposition and orientation of the light barriers 15, 14 and 43as well as of the ultrasonic sensor 25. The preforms 2 are hereinconveyed through these components in the conveyance direction 42 to therun-off track 9. Through the combination of these components allpreforms 2 which are malpositioned and/or represent a disturbance areremoved from the conveyor path 16 or brought into a correct position infront of the run-off track 9. Alternatively, in FIG. 10 a detectiondevice in the form of an optoelectronic sensor or an optical imagesensor 48 for pattern recognition is also depicted. This image sensor 48comprises an optical system, an image recorder and a processor as wellas a control device for energizing the first ejection arrangement 21and/or the second ejection arrangement with the blow-gun device 27, 31.When employing the optoelectronic image sensor 48, the light barriers43, 29 and the ultrasonic sensor 25 can be omitted since the functionsof these sensors are assumed by the image sensor 48. However, they canalso, at least partially, be continued to be employed in order toimprove the reliability of the overall system.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

-   1 Singling apparatus-   2 Cylindrical body (preform)-   3 Cylinder portion, second end (2)-   4 End region, first end (2)-   5 Collar (2)-   6 Threaded fitting (2)-   7 Guide rollers (1)-   8 Single row-   9 Run-off track-   10 Height guidance (1)-   11 Lifting arrangement (1)-   12 Interspace-   13 Jamming detection device (1)-   14 First light barrier (13)-   15 Second light barrier (13)-   16 Conveyor path-   17 Back-force wheel, kick wheel (1)-   18 Blade (17)-   19 Cutout (18)-   20 Lifting cylinder (11)-   21 Ejection arrangement (1)-   22 Parallel-position detection device (21)-   23 Presence detector (22)-   24 Position detector (22)-   25 Ultrasonic sensor (24)-   26 Ejection means (21)-   27 Blow-gun device (21)-   28 Resting detection facility (1)-   29 Light barrier (28)-   30 Beam-   31 Blow-gun device (28)-   32 Reflector (14)-   33 Reflector (15)-   34 Reflector (22)-   35 Reflector (29)-   36 Loading device-   37 Conveyor device-   38 Acceptance device-   39 Forming device-   40 Exit end (1)-   41 Roller conveyor (1)-   42 Conveyance direction-   43 Light barrier (22)-   44 Acquisition region-   45 Capture arrangement-   46 Air nozzles (31)-   47-   48 Optical image sensor (camera)

The invention claimed is:
 1. A singling apparatus (1) for cylindricalbodies (2), such as preforms for hollow bodies, which have at a firstend at least one projection (5) and at a second end a diameter smallerthan the diameter of the projection (5), wherein the singling apparatus(1) includes a pair of parallel oriented guidance elements (7) betweenwhich the cylindrical bodies (2) can be set up thereby that thecylindrical bodies (2) are each suspended by the projection (5) on theguidance elements (7) and the cylindrical bodies (2) form a single row(8) along the guidance elements (7) and are thus conductable to arun-off (9) for the further conveyance of the cylindrical bodies (2),wherein the singling apparatus (1) comprises a detection device, whichdetects incorrectly positioned and/or interlaced cylindrical bodies (2)and is equipped with a control device for ejection arrangements, as wellas a first ejection arrangement (21) with an ejection means (26)extending between the guidance elements (7) for ejecting cylindricalbodies (2) and a second ejection arrangement with a blow-gun device(31)for ejecting cylindrical bodies (2) by means of blowing them away fromthe guidance elements (7); wherein the ejection means (26) of the firstejection arrangement (24) is a moveable ejection means, which, for thepurpose of ejecting an incorrectly oriented cylindrical body (2), movesfrom below between the guidance elements (7) and thus lifts thiscylindrical body (2) and ejects it.
 2. Singling apparatus (1) as claimedin claim 1, wherein the first ejection arrangement (21) includes anassociated blow-gun device (27) for laterally blowing away a cylindricalbody (2) after the lifting of the latter by the ejection means (26).